The Ultimate STEM Gift Guide for Kids

This is my favorite post of the year… I love playing with toys and seeing what’s new, especially in the world of STEM. So have fun reading my labor of love and opinions on all things that your young engineers want this year. There’s science, robots, building toys. books and more! Even a few DIY kits that will inspire fun and learning in your kids.

This post contains affiliate links and may reference samples I received from companies, but the opinions are most definitely my own.

Building STEM Gifts for Kids

Building toys are the building blocks (pun intended) of a great STEM education. Here are some different takes on the old standards.

Give your kids some windows for their favorite magnetic tile building set with the new(ish) Magna-Tiles Ice. Plus add a set of dry-erase markers and their architecture can become anything they want it to be.

I have to include at least one LEGO set in here… You can’t go wrong with any of the sets but we gotta go for Star Wars Millenium Falcon with the new movie coming out. Or maybe Doctor Who is more your speed…

Regardless of whether you in believe in STEM toys marketed to girls or not, the industry is creating some good ones. Here are a few of my favorite building sets for girls:

Roominate has been one of our favorite toys for a while. This year they added rPower to their kits which allow your kiddo to control the speed of their Merry Go Roundor control the lights in theirChateau.

Robots for Kids

Robots are getting famous this year, which means kids will love them. These robots are some of the must have gifts of the year!!

Meccano MeccaNoid G15 KS: We had the chance to see these MeccaNoids in action at a STEAM event last week and it’s now my husband AND my daughter’s dream present for the holidays. Kids (and adults) can build their own voice-activated and motor operated robot that stands 4 ft. tall! This one is for ages 8+, but would make a great family building activity.

Sphero BB-8: This wish list wouldn’t be complete without at least one Star Wars themed item, right? My pick is definitely the Sphero BB-8, one of the hottest toys of the year. It’s smartphone driven, has voice-activated features and even creates holographic videos. Plus you know once the movie comes out, this will be a squeal-worthy present for any fan.

STEM Pretend Play for Kids

One of the things I love about the toy world today is that companies are realizing that traditional boy/girl lines aren’t necessary. Anyone can love science and engineering. And anyone can play with dolls, even kids that want to be engineers. (Proof in point is the huge basket of Barbie clothes from my childhood…) Here are a few options for kids that want to imagine themselves as STEMists.

Project MC² is inspiring girls to imagine themselves in STEAM careers with cute dolls and educational science experiments. Unlike Barbie, these dolls would never say “math is hard!” For starters, try McKeyla’s and her Lava Light or the Ultimate Lab Kit which comes complete with lab gear, microscope and experiment guide.

Your kiddo can design their own doll with the power of 3D printing with Makies. Do they want a mini-me? Totally doable. Pink hair (like my daughter did), that works too.

STEM Games for Kids

Games are great gifts for the whole family and fun ways to play and learn during play dates.

In Laser Maze Jr., players use science and logic to help a laser beam make it’s way through the maze. We really love this one for the fun and the learning.

Coding is the language of the future and kids can practice when they’re off the computer with this fun and challenging CodeMaster game. It’s for 8+, but we were able to make modifications so that even my nearly five year old could play.

Need a fun and fast-paced party game? Figure out the similiarities between funny things like pickles and penguins. Although not specifically a STEM game, Pickles to Penguinsencourages strong problem solving skills and the power of deduction.

Kids love gaming systems, so if you’re going to encourage it, you might as well go with something educational (and affordable!). The LeapFrog LeapTVMr. Pencil Doodle Craft game lets kids architect and build their own buildings and inspired my daughter to do some 3D making of her own.

Tinkering Gifts for Kids

Tinkering is fun and educational play for kids and helps them build creative problem solving skills and design thinking. Here are a few of my favorite ways to tinker.

Are your young engineers ready to start building some serious circuits? It’s time break out the Little Bits. This kit gives them lots of plug and play options.

One of the best things to give your kiddo is a box full of batteries and LEDs and let them figure out what to make with them. Soon up on the blog will be my guide to electric tinkering with young kids, but in the meantime, pick up a pack of these LEDs and these batteries.

My daughter loves window clings, so this year we’re giving her a way to make her very own. The Crayola Cling Creatorcomes complete with molds, tools & colored clay.

The hottest project on Left Brain Craft Brain is Thermochromic Slime and it changes color when it changes temperature. Pick up some pigment, glue & liquid starch to make your very own with this super easy tutorial.

Last year we got gifted two sets of the Scientific Explorer Mind-Blowing Science Kit. Good thing because it’s an awesome collection of science experiments with all the supplies included. I’d recommend this for any budding scientist.

And don’t forget the basics! Lab supplies like plastic beakers, test tubes & pipettes are extremely affordable must haves for the home lab.

STEM Activity Books for Kids

Want to give a book this holiday? Start with one of these awesome activity books sure to inspire the STEAMist in your kiddo. You can find the list on my book list here.

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Even More Holiday Gift Ideas

This month I’ve joined up with my fellow bloggers in the Kid Blogger Network to share all the holiday gift ideas you need this year. Click on over to KC Edventures (one of my favorite blogs!) to see the full list.

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[…] Yesterday we shared a round up of STEM gifts for kids. Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. We were were asked for a list of ideas for the older Gifted child. We came across this round up which is aimed at a higher level, I won’t say age group as anyone with High IQ Kids knows you cant measure their ability on age. Check out the Round up here. […]

[…] technology, Travel | No Comments We travel a good bit over the summer months. Where we go, our toys go too! You are going to love this list and hope you throw a couple of these games in your travel […]